Folding crate.



No. 759,294. Q PATENTBD MAY 10, 1904 O. F. MIESEN. FOLDING CRATE.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 11. 1902. 1

N0 MODEL.

GUM/n 013 THE cmms pawns co, nuoTuLm-m. WASHING'ION. 0. cv

No. vsaaea.

Patented May 10, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE F. MI ESEN, OF OI/VOSSO, MICHIGAN.

FOLDING CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 759,294, dated May 10, 1904.

Application filed June 11,1902. Serial No. 111,1 19. (N model.)

To (0M w/mm/ it may concern:

Be it known that I, OLAnnncn F. MiEsnN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Owosso, in the county of Shiawassee and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Grates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to folding crates; and

it has for its object to provide a crate which may be easily and quickly folded to lie flat and which when set up will be strong and durable.

A further object of the invention is to provide a crate which can be manufactured at a low cost and in which the bottom will act to hold the sides rigid.

In the drawings forming aportion of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the crate. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the crate. Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the crate in its folded condition, with the egg-cells packed therein. Fig. 4: is a perspective view of a corner of the crate and illustrating the manner of connecting the slats. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the metallic connecting members.

Referring now to the drawings, the present crate comprises sides 17, 18, 19, and 20, each including spaced slats, as shown. The sides 18 and 19, which are at opposite sides of the crate, are composed of slats which are of equal length and which extend entirely across the sides. The remaining sides 17 and are each composed of slats which are somewhat shorter than those comprising thesides 18 and 19 and which are reduced at one end, as shown at 2 1. At the ends of the slats which are not reduced they are pivoted to the slats of the sides 17 and 18 at diagonally opposite corners of the crate. At these corners the slats of the sides 17 and 20 are disposed between the slats of the sides 18 and 19, so that a log-cabin or pig-pen structure is formed.

A plurality of metallic members 21 are provided, each comprising spaced portions 25 and 26, which are connected by a web 27, and these members are disposed with their spaced portions engaged at one end with the reduced ends of the slats of the sides 17 and 20. The remaining ends of the members 21 are pivoted between the free ends of the slats of the sides 18 and 19.

By reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings it will be seen that when the crate is collapsed the members 21 will separate the slats from each other, allowing a space thercbetween for partitions, top, bottom, &c. When the crate is opened up, the members 21 aline with the slats 20 and 17, so as to in eifeet increase the length thereof, as shown.

It will be understoodthat in connection with the sides, as described, there are employed a suitable bottom and partitions.

It will be understood that in practice modiiication of the specific construction shown may be made and any suitable materials and proportions may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention.

WVhat is claimed is- A folding crate including sides each com prising a plurality of spaced slats, the slats on two sides being parallel and of equal length, and the slats oi the remaining sides, being of lesser length than the first-mentioned slats and reduced at one end, the shorter slats being pivoted to the ends of the longer slats at diagonally opposite corners, and a plurality of metallic members comprising spaced portions, and a connecting-web disposed with one end of the spaced portions at either side of the reduced ends of the shorter slats and pivoted thereto and with the remaining end pivoted in the spaces between the free ends of the longer slats.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CLARENCE F. MIESEN.

IVitnesses:

GLENN U. ANenvINn, HERMAN Misses. 

